Sergeant Campbell and Sergeant Jerry Dodson were standing in the lobby of the 6th District Police Station at 5076 East Florissant when they heard a male voice on the police radio uttering incoherent words and making unusual sounds. Believing someone was playing with one of the car radios the two sergeants walked outside to the front of the station. A gunshot came from one of the squad cars across the street by a suspect who had gained entrance to one of the cars and broken the shotgun out of the locked rack.

Sergeant Campbell was struck in the chest by one of the blasts and an officer James Cox was struck in the lower legs. A woman sitting in her car across the street was also wounded by flying window glass. The suspect, Lloyd Mitchell, 36, fled on foot with Sergeant Dodson in a foot pursuit. Sergeant Dodson fired at Mitchell striking him in the elbow but he continued to run. He was also struck by a police vehicle knocking him to the ground. He dropped the shotgun, got up and continued to run. Mitchell was struck again by a police vehicle but was able to vault the 10 foot fence surrounding Calvary Cemetery. Sergeant Dodson and Officer Terry Jenkins caught up with Mitchell and both officers fired, killing him. Sergeant Campbell was transported to Firmin Desloge Hospital but was pronounced dead on his arrival.